Wednesday, September 22, 2010

I'm not sure why, but I absolutely despise checking my mail. OK, yes I do know why ... I'm just that lazy. Anyway, I know this sounds really trivial, but it's actually a problem that's gotten out-of-hand. I get TONS of junk (and legit) mail with my name, address, etc. all over it, and I can't in good conscience just toss it in the trash. Helloooo, identity theft!

So, it never fails. My old mail just piles up and I find it stashed all over my apartment. The thought of going through it is overwhelming and is always the absolute last thing on my to-do list. After all, I pay all my bills online anyway. Plus, it's not like I have a shredder just hanging around, so what the eff am I supposed to do with it all??

In addition to my mail hoarding habits, I sort-of have an addiction to anything pink. it doesn't really matter what it is (e.g. body wash, stationary, post-it notes, razor, travel toothbrush holders, luggage, clothes, napkins, you get the idea), if it is pink I "have" to have it. I won't know I "needed" it, but turn something pink and magically "ohhh it's so cute, I have to have it."

Getting to my point. (Yes, I have a point.) You see, this little pink guy caught my eye and has become my new BFF: "What is it?" you ask? Well, it's my cheaper shredder alternative, duh!

So, I was at this gem of a store called The Sample House and Candle Shop purchasing a couple of these on a BOGO (buy one/get one) special:
when I noticed the hot pink little gadget on the counter. I soon discovered it was an "ID theft protection stamp" and I got a little excited because I didn't know such a thing existed.

The way it works is the stamp has a unique pattern that will mask your private and confidential information. The cute hot pink one I got is by a company called "Kes'pon". If you have any interest in a hot pink (or green, blue or plain ole' white) ID guard stamp, check-out the Kes'pon's online store. The small version (size I got and works perfectly fine) will cost you about $10 bones while the larger version is about $20 (plus S&H).

Both stamps regardless of size will last about 1,000 impressions. When you run out of ink, you can just purchase a refill on the same site. Or, if you have a Sample House & Candle Shop in your vicinity, just snatch one up there and save on S&H. It's a much, much cheaper alternative to a shredder if I do say so myself.

Monday, September 6, 2010

I die for fall weather, I am obsessed with Texas Tech football and obvi I relish frugal finds.

The weather on Friday was the first hint that Fall had arrived because for once I wasn’t drenched in sweat from walking the 100 steps to my car from work. Summer is Texas is a biz-natch and that is putting it lightly. 113 degree heat is NOT OK. In fact, it’s in-a-prope. So since we’ve cooled off to the 90s, it was time to put up my Fall wreath that I’ve been saving since last year.

This little guy was only $1.40. One of my best finds ever if I do say so myself.

I got it off-season at a Big Lots one day during my lunch break, and it was 90% off. I had to wait a year to use it since I bought it during Christmas, but I wasn’t going to pass up that deal. Last year a week after Christmas I also got tons of wrapping paper at Wal-Mart for only .20 cents a roll. Buying the leftover stuff right after a holiday is a great way to stock up for cheap.

Speaking of cheap, I have wanted bar stools for months and I finally purchased them with some of my birthday money. My bestie and now LAWYER friend Kristina was visiting from Vegas and she helped me decide on the style below. I’m kinda in love with them. What do you think?

and a view from the front ...
I am very type-A, so when I make a big purchase, I spend a lot of time researching. Not sure if you are aware, but bar stools are not cheap. In fact, they’re kind of ridic. I looked on Craig's List, but those hoes were still close to $100. And ummm, I’m not spending that much money on something used. Barf. I'm really not even sure I can co-sign on Craigs List. Used furniture kinda skeezes me out. Does that make me snobby?

Well, I stumbled across the selection of bar stools at Garden Ridge and they have over 100 styles starting at $24.99: Garden Ridge Bar Stools. The bar stools at GR are cheaper than Wal-mart and Target and the ones I got are great quality. If you do some research and don’t buy on impulse, you can find a great deal. Promise.

Lastly, since I mention TTU football and I can't resist showing off my presh little neph, how cute is he in his first Texas Tech shirt?? Clearly he is going to be a Red Raider one day. Just look at the joy on his face.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Recently I felt my bathroom needed a little sprucing up, so I checked out the specials at Hobby Lobby close to my work. I saw they had candles 50 percent off, so I picked some up ranging from $3.99 to $5.99 to put on a shelf in my bathroom.

Hobby Lobby actually has really cute home accent items and they are always running weekly specials. If you go online, they normally have a coupon of the week you can print off. This week, for instance, they had a 40 percent off coupon for any regularly priced item.

All this was only around $16. Me likey.

And today I scored 2 vases at TJMaxx's Home Goods store. I just simply cannot walk in there without buying at least something. I am a girly girl, so I love the feminine touch on the deep purple vase. Tall vase: only $5.99. Floral vase: $7.99. Don't mind if I do.

Well, my first attempt in the blog-o-sphere failed miserably. I quickly found out how uninteresting I was when I had absolutely nothing in my life to blog about. I'm not a mom, a wife and sadly, I really have no definable hobbies. So, this time around, I'm going to see if a "theme" will increase my chances of success. Cue "The Bargain Blonde" aka yours truly.

Believe it or not, there is one thing I'm passionate about besides reality TV. And that my friends, is finding a steal. I don't know what it is. Maybe I inherited it from my mother, or maybe it became a matter of survival when I found out how expensive toilet paper, razors (GASP) and my beloved cable boxes + 2 DVRS was post-college. Yes, 2 DVRs and I live alone. It's very necessary. There are areas in my life I obviously splurge and my cable package is definitely one of them. Bachelor Pad ... check.

You can call me cheap. I, however, prefer frugal. I just can't bring myself to pay full price. Why would I spend $280 on a pair of designer jeans when I can go to TJMaxx and score some for $60? It just doesn't make sense. Do I care if the pair of Citizens I bought at TJMaxx are last year's style? No. Do a lot of girls my age? Probably. Am in over my head in credit card debt? No. Are they?? Most likely.

I'll stick to my discount stores if that means I don't end up like Teresa "Prostitution WHORE-UH" and Juicy Joe Guidice. I mean, $11 million in debt? No thanks. Maybe if she spent a little less time at Posh and took a hint from my home girl NeNe (fellow Maxxinista), she wouldn't have to be in the hot seat explaining her Bankruptcy petition to Andy Cohen and the rest of American. Just sayin.

So now I begin my bargain blogging journey. Stick with me my friends, you may just realize cheap doesn't mean crappy. There are so many finds out there if you just have some patience and exercise a little resourcefulness.